How Is Abraham Lincoln Racist

This clearly shows that Lincoln was not out for the Negro but just to preserve the union. He says in many other debates that he thought the Negro had a physical difference from the white man as well as an intellectual difference (Lincoln-Douglas, n. pag.). Lincoln was considered by many in the south to be a bigot, a white supremacist who wanted segregation and opposed civil and political rights for blacks (Oates 21). Stephen B. Oates talks of many of the theories in his book, like that many southerners concluded that Lincoln was with them in the matters of race (22). Many of these examples show that Lincoln was a hypocrite of some sorts. He would appeal to the southerners by making statements that led them to believe that he was against the Negro. Yet he was writing the emancipation proclamation that was supposed to free all of the slaves. This also is debatable that the proclamation freed any slaves at all. The emancipation proclamation is looked at by some as one of the most far-reaching pronouncements ever issued in the United States (Oates 25). Also it is said that the proclamation freed few if any bondsman (Oates 26).

Even though he naively believed that white men were the supreme race, he was staunchly against slavery as an institution and felt that the Declaration of Independence included black persons. In the same debate, Lincoln goes on to state that he “[does] not perceive that because the white man is to have the superior position the Negro should be denied every thing” (Lincoln). He believed that ‘the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,’ as outlined in the Declaration of Independence, applies to all men, regardless of their color, ethnicity, or culture. This may be attributed to the fact that he had not had many encounters with Black slaves until when he was in his late teens, where it had a profound impact on him (Foner 8).

o Lincoln 's reputation as the great emancipator rests largely on his emancipation proclamation, an executive order which went into effect on January 1st, 1863. This order ostensibly freed all the slaves in territory currently rebelling against the United States, i.e. in areas where the US government had no authority to free slaves. This is rather like the United States announcing that, from here on out, North Korea would be ruled by Lady Gaga. Sure, it 's a great idea, but it 's not really your jurisdiction. In areas where the US did have the authority to free slaves--the border states and some of the areas of the Confederacy that had been effectively conquered and occupied by federal troops, those slaves were not freed. So Lincoln

As Bennett states in his article, Lincoln was opposed to the extension of slavery not out of compassion for suffering black people, but out of devotion to the interests of white people. In his Charlston speech, Lincoln stated, “I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black race, . . . I will say there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality.” The speech itself shows that Lincoln was opposed to every aspect of the Emancipation Proclamation that he himself issued. Not only that, but Lincoln felt pressured to issue the Emancipation Proclamation by Radical Republicans who were pushing for it to be passed. Furthermore, if Lincoln had not issued the Proclamation, the congress would have done it. Lincoln did not want to give up his power as a president, and signed the document himself. In response to the proclamation, Bennett writes, Lincoln “freed” slaves where he had no power and left them in chains where he had power (page 137). In Lincoln and Colonization, by Richard Blackett, a historian of the abolition movement, The pressures of war forced his hand. As a result, the proclamation contained so many restrictions that observers questioned its effectiveness (page 20).

The author says that defenders and supporters of Lincoln can always back up his remarks with a redeeming quality. Lincoln admitted his feelings of racial equality; instead he always stated the feeling of white people. He didn’t always carefully construct his answers when speaking about his position of certain topics, although he tried. Lincoln wanted all questions about race removed from all discussion. His strategy to do so was to agree with the Democratic Party that there was no equality between blacks and whites. He used racism strategically to eliminate it. Lincoln did admit that he was in support of colonization because he truthfully believed that blacks and whites could not live together equally. To a man like Frederick Douglass, what Lincoln and the Republicans stood for was disjointed. And to me, while this may have all been a strategy for Lincoln, I feel it necessary to take Douglass’ side of the issue.

Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States of America, was in fact, not a racist. During the Lincoln-Douglas debates, Abraham Lincoln made several statements regarding his position on slavery and race, bringing us to analyze and judge his past.

Between the years of 1861 and 1865, the 16th president of the United states, Abraham Lincoln, was serving his second term amidst a Civil War that was being fought between the northern (Union) and southern (Confederate) United States over whether or not slavery should be abolished. An article entitled Lincoln, a White Supremacist, written by author and social historian, Lerone Bennett Jr., was written to inform it’s readers that President Lincoln was not the slave freer history makes him out to be, but was really a conservative white supremacist. Lerone Bennett Jr’s argument that Lincoln was a white supremacist is correct because of the racial prejudices he shared with his peers, his belief in white people being the superior race, and his use of the Emancipation Proclamation to damage the South rather than help the slaves.

Lincoln was the great emancipator because he thought slavery was unfair, he planned to find a place for freed slaves to live prosperous lives, and he created laws that would free slaves. Abraham Lincoln expressed his thoughts of slavery very well; he believed it was unjust and directly went against the constitution’s statement of, “all men are created created equal.”. Also, when the Kansas-Nebraska Act essentially repealed the Missouri Compromise, he was against it because it disrupted the balance between slave states and non-slave states, allowing slavery to spread up north. Not only that, but he also claimed that if he could, he would free all slaves, and did not think of them as property. This shows that Lincoln despised slavery as a whole and wanted it to stop, proving he was an emancipator.

Abraham Lincoln was a true abolitionist; he was very committed to the end of slavery in America even though people thought differently of him. Lincoln spent a majority of his presidency making sure slavery, if it wasn’t during his term, was abolished for good. A man like this could never be classified as a racist, because his actions speak louder than words.

Dear Mr. Cortez, you know how you asked me to research all about the Aztecs, to share with you? Well here’s what I have found out. When you come here, somethings may not make sense. Some houses are bleached white, or have sun-dried brick or stone, while others were tiny little huts with a garden out back. This is the ranking for rich and poor, with the rich having stone, and the poor having hut houses. You may see some people walking along the streets, and you must note who is who. Most will presumably be carrying fruits and veggies, and wearing plain clothes that they had to create themselves. Then there are the Nobles skipping down the street, and you will note that they are Nobles as they will have feathers on their apparel. If you appear

Abraham Lincoln influenced america and other historical figures. Martin Luther King Jr. and Lincoln were one of the most prominent leaders when it came to slavery. He showed courage to stand up for what’s right and fight against for what’s wrong. Without Abe Lincoln we would not be in the position and success we have in the modern world (smithsonian). Abe Lincoln was a “Progressive man”, he made strides to free the slaves and to abolish slavery(smithsonian1). He was one of the most known and recognized leaders in american history.

Abraham Lincoln is by far our most revered president in the history of the United States. He had a strong moral vision of where his country must go to preserve and enlarge the rights of all her people, but he was also a good man with a strong sense of character and a great discipline in the art of law; and he sought to continue the great and mighty legacy of the Constitution. He believed that the Founding Fathers had drawn up the Constitution without the mention of slavery because they felt that it would later die of a natural death. He would soon learn that that would not be the case.

It was now the duty of Lincoln to maintain the unity of the nation. Therefore, Lincoln is not the “Great Emancipator” because his primary goals throughout his presidency was always to maintain the unity of the nation and not achieve the emancipation of slaves. First of all, by looking at

On September 22, 1862, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, issued the first, or preliminary, Emancipation Proclamation. In this document he warned that unless the states of the Confederacy returned to the Union by January 1, 1863, he would declare their slaves to be “forever free.” During the Civil War, he was fighting to save the Union and trying not to free the slaves. Lincoln was quoted to say, “I am not, nor have ever been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races.” The Emancipation Proclamation illustrated this view.

The appellation, “The Great Emancipator” is not granted to just any person, but rather it highlights a courageous, respectful, and driven individual. Abraham Lincoln’s contribution to the United States is so grand and captivating, that he is deservingly recognized as America’s greatest president. For example, he abolished slavery, led America through the Civil War, and prevented the Union from splitting apart. Abraham Lincoln is America’s greatest president and was the forceful leader that manipulated America from a state of turmoil into a state of justice and harmony.